This is believed to be a 1950s casting of Fairbanks as D’Artagnan.

Rick Stewart wrote, “A highlight of the Russells’ visit to California in the spring of 1921 was their introduction to the royal couple of the booming Hollywood film industry, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. The two film stars viewed Russell’s paintings and sculptures on display at the Kanst Art Galleries and became enthusiastic converts to his art. Pickford supposedly picked out a painting titled The Navajos, telling Nancy Russell that she intended it to be a surprise for her husband when he saw it hanging in their house in Beverly Hills. Meanwhile, Fairbanks bought the same painting from Charlie Russell, pledging him to secrecy until it could be surreptitiously transported to his house and hung as a surprise for his wife. ‘The situation caused considerable merriment when all understood what had happened,’ a Montana newspaper reported.”

PROVENANCE
Private collection, ca. 1950s
Present owners, by descent

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